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Genetic divergence and units for conservation in the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis

Ciofi, Claudio, Beaumont, Mark A., Swingland, Ian R., Bruford, Michael W. (1999) Genetic divergence and units for conservation in the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B Biological Sciences, 266 (1435). pp. 2269-2274. ISSN 0962-8452. (doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0918) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:17213)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1999.0918

Abstract

In the past decade much attention has focused on the role that genetics can play in the formation of management strategies in conservation. Here, we describe genetic diversity in the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), examining the evolutionary relationships and population genetic history of the four islands in south-east Indonesia, which form the vast majority of its range. We identify distinct genetic groups for conservation. The population on the island of Komodo shows by far the largest values of genetic divergence and is proposed that it should be a separate conservation management unit. Other populations, surviving either on small islands with substantially reduced genetic variability, or in isolated patches, are identified as particularly vulnerable to stochastic threats and habitat loss. Our results provide an example of how data defining intraspecific levels of genetic divergence can provide information to help management plans, ensure the maintenance of genetic variability across populations and identify evolutionary potential within endangered species.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1098/rspb.1999.0918
Uncontrolled keywords: population genetics; evolutionarily significant units (ESUs); microsatellites; reptiles; Varanus komodoensis
Subjects: Q Science
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Depositing User: M. Nasiriavanaki
Date Deposited: 26 Jun 2009 06:45 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:55 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/17213 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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